Scene-shifting apparatus.



G. KNICKELBEIN.

SCENE SHIFTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7. I916.

134:1,63'7. Patented 001:. 2,1917.

I I f I! [Z 11 ATTUFf/VQYE I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV amen-annals. or MILWAUKEE, wlsc n nv.

' SCENE-SHIFTING APPARATUS. v a I 1 241 637 I Specification of LettersPatent. Patented Oct, 2, 1917 Application filed. June 7, 1916. SerialNo. 102,119.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GUSTAV KNICKELBEIN, a.citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the countyof Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Scene-Shifting Apparatus, of which the following is adescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which area part of this specification.

The invention relates to theatrical apparatus.

The invention is more particularly designed to provide an apparatusor'device for operating scenery.

Heretofore it has been customary in theaters to suspend each set ofscenery from threeor more ropes running over pulleys in the loft of thetheater and to provide these ropes with what is termed an equalizer andsecure a counter weight, generally a sand bag, to the equalizer. In themanipulation of scenery of this kind the ropes above referred to aretied down to the pin rail in the fly gallery when the scene is up ordown. The counter weight is generally secured to the equalizer directlyabove the head of the attendant who stands at the pin rail in the flygallery so that he may see what is going on on the stage below him andit sometimes happens that these counter weights fall upon or strike theattendants causing injury. Thus it has been the practice to provide'acounter weight for each piece of scenery and to so position the counterweight upon the scene supporting ropes as to be dangerous to theattendants in the fly gallery. Furthermore the use of a counter weightfor each scene near the pin rail means more space required in the flygallery. In view of the disadvantages above pointed out, I have provideda device whereby a single counterweight may be used in connection withseveral sets of scenes and operated from the fly gallery, and one inwhich the counter weight is connected to the scene shifting ropes insuch a way as to be back of the pin rail and behind the operator.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter setforth and is more particularly defined by claims at the conclusionhereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of the theatrical stage looking from the rear towardthe front thereof with the device embodying the invention applied to oneof the pieces of scenery;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the device embodyingthe invention.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 3 represents the stage, at theproscenium of the stage, 5 a drop scene, 6 the stage loft, and 7 the flygallery from which the scenes are operated.

In the present instance the drop scene or curtain 5 is connected tothree ropes 8, 9 and 10 running over pulleys 8, 9' and 10 journaled insuitable supports 11 mounted on the frame member 12 of the loft 6. Fromthe pulleys 8', 9' and 10 the ropes pass over pulleys 8", 9 and 10journaled in a bracket '13 mounted on the frame 12 A rope 9 by a rope 18and a rope 19 connected at its end to the ropes 8 and 10 respectivelypasses through the sheave of said pulley. The pulley 17 is provided withan eye bolt or other suitable fastener 20. While I have shown anddescribed a single scene and the connections for raising and loweringit, it

will be understood that the invention is usedin the theater inconnection with several scenes arranged one behind the other and thateach scene 1s suspended from the loft in the manner just described andthat the operating ropes run down to the pin, rail in the fly gallery.

The counter weight mechanism which is designed to be used in connectionwith several single scenes hung as above described comprises a counterweight 21 which is connected to a rope 22 passing upwardly and thencehorizontally over spaced apart pulleys 23 and 2% mounted in the loftabove the fly gallery and thence downwardly and around a pulley 25mounted on the floor of the fly gallery behind the pin rail and in linewith the ropes 8, 9 and 10 connected to the scene 5, and it furthercomprises means for'detachably connecting said coun Ill) through whichthe" end portion 27' of the" ter weight mechanism to theropes 8, 9 andThis means consists of a pulley 26 rope 22 passes, the end of the rope22being provided with a snap hook 28 which is adapted to be detachablysecured in a rlng 29 ti'ed or otherwisefastened to the'rope between thepulleys and 26-and onthe side opposite to the end portion- 27. Thepulley 26 is provided withia hook 30 which is adapted to be hooked intothe fastener 20 on the pulley 17 of any one of several scenes.

Asshown ill-full. lines in-Fig. 31 the counter weight mechanism isconnected up to the ropes. supportingathe scene.5 and in this conditioncounter balances or tendswto counter balancefrthe weight ofsaid-sceneuwhen it-is raised or lowered, If now it iszdesiredJto.

raise or lower a scene in front of, behind or withln a reasonabledistance from the, scene 5,.scene. 5 is-tied off inraised position'bytyingv the. ropes 8,; 9 and 10 to one ofthebelaying -pi ns-son one: ofthe pin. rails in the front 0t the fly gallery WVhen. this is donethe'op erator unhooks the snap hook'2 8 from engagementw'vith thering;29 and the rope-22 is then pulled by the counter weight 21 untilt-he.'tied ring 29 engages the vpulley 25., as

shown. i'na dotted hnes in Fig. 1. This brings thecounter-Weight 21 torest and gives suflicient slackin. the end portion 27 of the rope I 22,to enable the operator to unhook. the p ll-- ley 26 from the pulley 17for the scene 53 after "which he may hook up the pulley 26 with thepulley 17; of any oneof several scenesfnear. the. scene 5. and thenseoure the snap hook 28 to the ring 29. to connect-the counter weightmechanism with this other scene. Thusathe singlei counterweightmechanism-serves for several scenes. s H

Itlis to be noted also that the. arrangement ofthe blocks andconnections for the counter! weight are such as to dispose the Ycounterweight at the rear of the fly gallery and behind the operators,sothat there will: be no chance oftheir-being injured .whilestationed atthe pin railtomanipulatethe scenes.

' The invention thus exemplifies a simplev andj efiicient form of scene'shitting. apparatus hichz is well'fadapted-for the-purpose] described.

The invention is not to beunderstood as.

restricted to the details set fo'rth, sincethese may be modified.withinthe. scope: of the appended claims without departing from; thespirit and. scope of therinvention.

What I claimv as myginvention is:

1; The combination,,withz'a plurality of.- scenes, a plurality ,ofiropes for suspending each, of. said scenes, and: a pin" rail. inthe,fiyi gallery for V tying oiff. the ropes: for each scene,, of acounterweight mechanism com.- prising a rope; and aweight suspended-by saidropeu iromthe stage: loft, a detachable connection between said rope andthev ropes,

is being made.

l Q plurality zeachlot said. scenes, and a pinrailin the b ,ga11ery;for\ty1;og;;o1fv the. ropes for eachrg for any one o'f'said scenes, andmeans for lengthening and shortening said counter weight rope tofacilitate the change of the counter weight mechanism from one scene toanother.

7 A 2. The combination, withaplu'rality of scenes ,a plurality of ropesfor suspending each, of-said scenes, and a pin rail in the fiyy galleryfor tying .ofl the ropes for each 2 scene, of an equalizer'secured tothe ropesi '5j for each scene, pulleysin thestage lofit and a pulley onthe flooriof'thefly ga1lery,I-a rope running; over pulleys: ini'the'stage lofty,

andthepulley on'thefloor ofthefiygatlery,

a counter. weight secured to the: end oi the rope at a'distance. fromthe pin, rail ,fanex -v f tensibleconnection on the-end oftheirope nearthe pulley on the floor otthe fi; =gallery,..,

, a member slidably mounted'on said ext an w sible' portion of thecounterweight rope, g5 and a detachable connection between Said! memberandrsaidwequalizer; i

3.. The combination, with-1a; plurality ofv scenes, a plurality ofropes.-for suspending each of said scenes, and: means for tying; oileach of saicl sscenes of a zcounter weightgj L mechanism comprising a,rope and a. weight; i

connected thereto, a detachable} connection between saidtropeiandtheropes'fioria ny one? ofi said scenes, 7 shortening said counter-weightrope while; thechange of the counter weightgmechanismm from, onescenexto another isbeing made. 1 L:

4. The combination, with aplurality of scenes, a plurality of-ropes;for-suspending I each; ofsaid scenes, ,andmeans; for tying Ofi}: V each;of said scene s ,ofan:equalizersecured-1 to-theropes -for eachfsciene, acou'nter weight mechamsm' adapted, to be detachably con-Z nectedto any;one; ofisa-id equalizers -com= 1 05 prisingaaropeiand acounter-weighticom I nectedthereto,,,one end otsaid rope; lnwirig: aloop therein formed by detachably icon- 1.-

necting this end of; the rope to aninterme diate portion thereof, amember IDQHIltGdaQl-l the loop, and a detachable'conv, nection between;said member and said equal 1 1zer. .7 r

5 The: combination, with a plurality of? p scenes,v a' plurality ofropes for suspend ing eachof-said scenes, and'means for'tyingt; ofi eachof said scenes, ot a! counter weight mechanism comprising rope andweight; connected theneto, a; detachable connection between saidropea-nd the ropes for anyone of said scenes, means forlimiting'thetravel)- of the-counter weight. and? rope; and means i v forlengthenmg or shontemng; said: counter weight nopeawhilethe changeofthecounter i weightimechamsmi fnomone scene; tea-nether 6. Thecombinatiom with ai plurality of of ropes E for suspending Hind-111831181501 lengthening or -95 slidablyuo scene, of a counter weightmechanism including a rope and a weight suspended by said rope from thestage loft to a position in the fly gallery at a distance from the pinrail, and an extensible detachable connection between said counterweight rope and the ropes for each scene to permit said counter weightmechanism to be used in connection with a plurality of scenes.

7. The combination, with a plurality of scenes a plurality of ropes forsuspending each of said scenes and a pin rail in the fly gallery fortying ofi the ropes for each scene, of a counter weight mechanism havinga part extending to a position adjacent the pin rail and an extensibledetachable connection between said counter weight mechanism and theropes for each scene to permit said counter weight mechanism to be usedin connection with a plurality of scenes.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

GUSTAV KNICKELBEIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressingthe Commissioner of fatents,

Washington, D. G.

